Panama City, Florida – (October 9, 2019) – The Bay Economic Development Alliance (BayEDA), Port Panama City, City of Panama City, and Bay County announced today that a leading distribution company for custom kitchen cabinets will be locating in Panama City, Florida. Clark and Son Inc. (Clark and Son) will locate their distribution and final assembly headquarters operation in Panama City, Florida.

MEXICO BEACH, Fla. - The Trump administration is confirming that a U.S. Air Force base in the Florida Panhandle that was devastated by Hurricane Michael will be rebuilt so it can house F-35 fighter jets.

Check out our recent feature in 850 Business Magazine regarding economic development in Bay County after Hurricane Michael. Economic development is still strong and we look forward to several successes in 2019!

The Bay Economic Development Alliance (BayEDA) and the Bay County Commission announced today that an international foundation, Casa Laxmi Foundation, Inc. 501(c)(3) (Casa Laxmi), is establishing an international boarding school for students from kindergarten through grade 12 in Bay County, Florida. The project represents an investment of approximately $117 million and will bring 300 new jobs to Bay County. The average wage for the new jobs will be over $50,000 annually.

The Company plans the development of a 110-125 room hotel with a full service restaurant and bar, as well as meeting space. This new hotel will be located adjacent to the airport which is located within St. Joe’s 110,500 acres known as the Bay-Walton Sector Plan.

Bay County employers are hiring after Hurricane Michael, but housing and loyalty may be a roadblock
The largest employers in Bay County are showing that Hurricane Michael can’t run them out of town. But housing will play a key role in keeping businesses—and their employees—afloat.

The Bay County Board of County Commissioners will get $95,000 to develop an expeditionary rapid innovation center outside Naval Station Activity Panama City. The center "will collaborate with local colleges, universities, and business in a public-private partnership," officials wrote in a news release. "This partnership will address the Navy’s critical need for a quick response innovative solution to address emerging mission requirements."

PANAMA CITY — The Bay Economic Development Alliance ended its regular meeting Wednesday with another success story.
Butterfly Training, an aviation training company based in France, plans to open its U.S. headquarters in Panama City.

The world’s largest airline is now offering ECP passengers non-stop daily service on the 65-seat CRJ-700 jet to Charlotte Douglas and Dallas-Fort Worth airports, American Airlines hubs that offer connecting flights to destinations around the world

BAY COUNTY — If all goes according to plan, by the end of 2018, international aerospace manufacturing company GKN Aerospace will have brought 100 new, high-paying jobs to the region.
In 2019, Eastern Shipbuilding will begin construction on the first of nine Coast Guard offshore patrol cutters, anticipated to bring more than a thousand jobs to the area when all is said and done.
In 2020, the size of Tyndall Air Force Base will increase by almost a third, with 1,600 new airmen to support the MQ-9 Reaper wing program, assuming the base passes a mandatory environmental study.
Editor’s note: This is the top story of 2017 as selected by readers and News Herald staff. A comprehensive Year in Review special section will publish in early January. Find additional related content at newsherald.com.

BAY COUNTY, Fla. - Northwest Florida Beaches International made a big move Wednesday morning to increase aircraft storage space. They approved a project for a second airport hangar in Sheltair's general aviation section of the airport.

In January 2015, Port Panama City gained certification for a 54 acre site at their Intermodal Distribution Center (IDC). The certification was achieved through Gulf Power Company’s Florida First Sites program in partnership with international site selection firm, McCallum Sweeney.

GKN's Sue Barnes said the company is bringing about $55 million of capital equipment to its 135,000-square-foot Bay County facility, which should open in 2018. Recruitment for 170 highly skilled employees will begin in the coming months.

"Let me make an offer to you," Dr. John Holdnak, president of Gulf Coast State College, remembered telling them. "If you will commit to come, I will develop a program around your industry needs and I will help recruit students to go into this program and train your workforce."

The St. Joe Company (NYSE:JOE) (“St. Joe”) and the Bay Economic Development Alliance today announced that one of the world’s largest independent first tier suppliers to the international aviation industry, will expand its operations by locating a new manufacturing facility in Venture Crossings® Enterprise Centre in Bay County, Florida.

Every two years, Development Counsellors International honors young professionals from across the globe for exceptional contributions to the economic development industry and to recognize the profession's rising stars.

Edge Aerodynamix, a company whose products save fuel and energy by improving the aerodynamic efficiency of aircraft wings and rotor blades, announced that its conformal vortex generator (CVG) technology has received a supplemental type certificate (STC) from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Berg Steel Pipe Corp. started its year with a shipment of 39,318 tons of steel plate from Germany, a record haul for Port Panama City and a good indicator for the type of business the company hopes to do this year.

Becca Hardin, President of the Bay EDA is part of a team of economic developers from Florida's Great Northwest that are in Seattle this week on an aerospace recruitment mission. The team will visit Boeing's operations and participate in the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance Conference and hold one-on-one meetings with aerospace companies.

By VALERIE GARMAN
News Herald Reporter
Posted Nov. 17, 2015 at 5:18 PM
Updated Nov 17, 2015 at 5:19 PM
The Bay Economic Development Alliance (EDA) used a lost project to gauge the headway the organization made this year during an annual luncheon.

PANAMA CITY — As officials with the Bay County Economic Development Alliance (EDA) target the aerospace industry for local job growth, the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) remains at the center of their pitch.

Recently, Oceaneering International, as part of a consortium with GE Oil & Gas, secured a contract that added over $100 million to its Subsea Products backlog. All of this product manufacturing is planned to be performed at their Port Panama City, Florida umbilical facility and is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2015 with completion in the fourth quarter of 2017.

The latest episode of the Florida's Great Northwest regional TV show, filmed at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, features BayEDA President, Becca Hardin and the economic development assets of Bay County, Florida.

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport was recently honored by Delta as a 2014 Station of the Year, an award given worldwide to stations that meet operational and customer service criteria as measured by the Atlanta-based airline.

DeTect, Inc. (www.detect-inc.com) celebrates the third anniversary of opening of its European Division Office to meet growing demand for its radar products in the United
Kingdom (UK), European Union (EU), and the Middle East. The DeTect Global Ltd. office is located in Horsham, West Sussex near London-Gatwick Airport.

Bay EDA joins the Florida's Great Northwest delegation at the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance conference. The conference focused on how the aerospace industry is shifting more manufacturing investment to the United States after a decade in which production jobs in the sector flowed to China and other emerging economies.

Jason Peters, director of transportation development for FDOT’s Northwest Florida office, spoke at the Bay County Economic Development Alliance’s (EDA) investors meeting, outlining several multimillion-dollar roadway projects prepping for construction in the area.

At the recent Enterprise Florida Board Meeting, Secretary of Commerce and president & CEO of EFI, Gray Swoope, gave his final address to the Board. It was announced that Bill Johnson will replace Gray Swoope.

Port Panama City's Intermodal Distribution Center is ready to house new industry. One 54-acre site on the IDC property, located on U.S. 231, recently became the fourth in the region to receive certification through Gulf Power's Florida First Sites program, aimed at attracting new industry to the area.

The leadership of the Bay Economic Development Alliance (Bay EDA) recently announced that Executive Director, Neal Wade will be moving on to a new chapter in his career. Becca Hardin will become Interim President of the organization at the beginning of 2015.

United announced this week it will begin serving the Bay County area in early 2015, providing twice-daily, year-round service to the airline’s largest passenger hub at Houston’s George Bush International Airport (IAH).

Gov. Rick Scott announced more than $1.1 million in projects and programs designed to make life a little easier for military personnel and their families in the Panhandle on Monday, about a week before Election Day, and some of that money will end up in Bay County.

A limitless passion for sharing knowledge and strengthening the technical skills base in the Bay County area has local company Hive Technologies and the CareerSource Gulf Coast Board working together, keenly focused on the mission.

Each year Site Selection salutes the top utility economic development teams in the US. Chief among the criteria is analysis of corporate end-user project activity in 2013 in those utilities' territories, based on data from Site Selection's New Plant Database and from utility and community reports.

With five and 10-year master plans in the works, the Port Authority at the small but busy facility is exploring ways to adapt best to the changing game of world trade as markets evolve, ships get bigger and trade routes shift.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. of Panama City, FL is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of the three finalists to design the United States Coast Guard’s new Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC).

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. of Panama City, FL is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of the three finalists to design the United States Coast Guard’s new Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC).

Recently, Governor Rick Scott announced that local defense partners in Okaloosa, Walton and Bay Counties were awarded over $450,000 through Florida’s Defense Reinvestment Grant. These three counties were chosen among 12 regions to receive a Defense Reinvestment Grant.

There’s an old saying that goes: “A rising tide lifts all boats.” And as a wider Panama Canal opens its locks for the world’s mega-ships, Northwest Florida’s local ports — Port Panama City, Port of Pensacola and Port St. Joe — are taking stock of what that means for their business, as well as the economic health of the region they serve.

Governor Rick Scott announced that Florida ranked first overall in U.S. aviation manufacturing attractiveness in PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Aviation’s Second Gold Age: Can the U.S. aircraft industry maintain leadership? The U.S. aviation manufacturing attractiveness index ranked Florida’s talent first, Florida’s industry ninth, and Florida’s cost sixth for an overall ranking of first in the nation.

Governor Rick Scott recently announced that iSirona, an information technology company that provides solutions for medical device integration, will expand its operations in Panama City, creating 300 new jobs and a capital investment of $2.25 million.

B&C Technologies was recently recognized as a member of the 2013 Class of Florida Companies to Watch, an honor presented by GrowFL at the University of Central Florida in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation. In its 3rd year, Florida Companies to Watch celebrates second-stage growth companies for their impressive employment rates and revenue growth.

The Panama City Port Authority is pleased to announce that it has leased 75,000 square feet within its new distribution warehouse to AAdvantage North American. AAdvantage North American is a Panama City based logistics company providing vendor managed inventory (VMI) warehousing and distribution services.

iSirona, a provider of simplified solutions for medical device integration, today announced it has been named to the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies in America. This is the second year in a row iSirona has earned a spot on the magazine's elite list.

The Port Panama City Port Authority (PCPA) is prepared to build access roads, lay-down area and 20 car rail intermodal cargo transfer facility with adequate setback to support transfer of bulk products between rail and truck, and will create 23 new direct jobs.

B&C Technologies is named as one of 2013's honorees in the Florida Companies to Watch award program. In its 3rd year, Florida Companies to Watch is presented by GrowFL at the University of Central Florida in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation.

iSirona, a provider of simplified solutions for medical device integration, today announced it was included in Outside Magazine's sixth annual "Best Places to Work" list. iSirona was ranked number 28 out of 100 selected companies.

Charles W. Nicholson, Jr., Chairman of the Board for Community Bank, Coast, is proud to announce that Edward Michael Freeman, Jr., has joined the Board of Directors for Community Bank. Freeman currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for Acentria Insurance headquartered in Destin, Florida.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. of Mandeville, LA exercised an additional four (4) 90’x32’x10’ “Canal Class” Inland Towboats. On January 23, 2013, Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. signed the 56th vessel that is currently under construction and with these additional four towboats brings the total to 60 vessels contracted.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013, the St. Andrew Bay Land Company received approval to start phase one of what Panama City officials are calling the biggest development that's been in the city. The plan, which spans over the next 30 years will build over 3,000 homes and create 700,000 square feet of commercial space.

The Eastern Shipbuilding Group announces it will add about 400 jobs in the next year. The company says they are preparing to build two new sub-sea construction vessels. They will be primarily used by the offshore oil industry.

Port Panama City has an annual impact of about $1.4 billion on the state’s economy and a direct business impact in Bay County of more than $544 million, according to a report issued on behalf of the port.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that on March 29, 2013, O’Hara
Corporation of Rockland, Maine signed a contract to construct and deliver one 194’ DNV Classed Freezer Stern Trawler Fishing Vessel. This new contract will be
constructed from their ST-115 design furnished by Skipsteknisk, AS of Aalesund, Norway.

After almost five months of applications, interviews, and decision-making the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce has finally elected its new leader. The search committee, staff, and Board of Directors chose Lance Allison from Murray, KY, to direct the Beach Chamber in its future endeavors.

PANAMA CITY, Fla.-February 7, 2013-iSirona, the leading provider of simplified solutions for medical device integration, today announced it has been named one of America's Most Promising Companies by Forbes Magazine.

The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), CASTO and Strategic Retail Advisors (SRA) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony late last week to begin construction for their joint venture project Pier Park® North, a 360,000-square-foot shopping center located across from Pier Park Lifestyle Center on US-98 east of the State Road 79 intersection. The Pier Park North shopping center anticipates opening in spring of 2014.

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) achieved a major milestone for the aviation industry today as it flew the first civil jet powered by 100 percent unblended biofuel. This historic flight symbolizes a significant step not only for the aerospace industry, but also towards advancing sustainable sources of renewable energy. The fuel was made by Applied Research Associates in Panama City, Fla.

MOBILE, Alabama -- Opportunity and transformation are the words on the lips of both local and regional economic development officials in the wake of Airbus revised global aircraft forecast through 2031.

The Bay Economic Development Alliance (EDA) announces the expansion of iSirona, a downtown Panama City-based medical software development company. iSirona, formed in 2008, has grown from 33 to 100 employees since January 2012 and projects to grow by another 100 jobs over the next three years. The company recently relocated its headquarters to the former ITT Exelis building in downtown Panama City.

Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Bregier, second from left, shakes hands with Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley as they pose with a model of the A320 Airbus following an announcement Monday that Airbus will establish its first assembly plant in the United States in Mobile. The French-based company said the Alabama plant is expected to cost $600 million to build and will employ 1,000 people when it reaches full production, likely to be four planes a month by 2017.

A group from Southeast Alabama and Northwest Florida has been working for several months to prepare for a future mega project for the region. The group has identified several possible sites that could attract a mega-project including steps to "certify" the site as ready for an industrial expansion.